Rearview mirror apparatus



June3, 1952 D. E. REED REARVIEW MIRROR APPARATUS Filed Nov. 14, 1947 INVENTOR.

DAN/EL E. REED.

Patented June 3, 1952 Daniel E. Reed, Norwalk, -Gonn-.-,--assignor to Supersite Corporation, Bronx Nb Y.,- a corporation of'N'ew York Application-November 14, 194 -7,Scrial Ni..785,853'

1 Olaiin..- (Cl. 287 211) The present inven'tion'p'ertains to improvement in rear view mirror apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide a'rearview mirror providing rear-view facilities for the driver of a'vehicle in" combination with warning means for drivers ofapproaching' vehicles.

Another object'is to provide a combination-of the above nature providing warning'to drivers approaching either from the rear or from ahead of the vehicle on which it is installed.

Another object is to provide improved swivel means joining the mirror' frame to its supporting arm.

A further object is to provide improved means for securing the device to a vehicle.

A still further object is to provide improved means for permanently fastening the supporting arm to the securing means.

Other objects andadvantages will become evident during the course of the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a rear view of the mirror and supporting assembly;

Figure 2' is a top view of the same;

Figure 3 is a front view of the same illustrating the forward warning means;

Figure 4 is a detail view of the attaching clamp or stirrup viewed from its outer side;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional View of the same in the plane 5-5, Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a detail illustration of the inner end of the arm prior to its attachment to the stirrup or clamp;

Figure 7 is a fragmental sectional view of the clamp showing its preparation for riveting to the arm;

Figure 8 illustrates the arm, clamp and related parts positioned for riveting together;

Figue 9 is a similar view showing the completed riveted joint;

Figure 10 is a detail end view of the riveted joint; and

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view illustrating the improved swivel, its method of attachment to the mirror frame, and the incorporation of the forward warning device in the swivel clamping cap.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the numeral designates a rear-view mirror mounted in a frame 2| having a convex back 22. A swivel sleeve 23, Figure 11, is rigidly secured to the back 22 by means of a hollow rivet 24 having an outer flange 25 overlying an inner flange 25a in the sleeve 23. Serrated lock washers 26 and 211, preferablyof the type known as Shakepr'oofl'. eredisposed about the rivet 24 on the outside and: inside of the back 22. It will be evident that the improved riveted joint, as illustrated; secures theswivel'sleeve 23rigidly to the back 22, eliminating the possibility of the sleeve loosening: or turning inthe back.

The sleeve 23- has a longitudinal slot 23 extending inward from its outer end to admit the neck 29 of: a supporting' armor shank 39. The neck 2&termina-tesin a ball 3-l engaging the open end of the rivet-24 in ball and socket relation. A' plunger 32 slidably mounted in the sleeve 23, en'gagesthe outer sideofthe ball 3|, and is pressed-against the'la'tter in adjustable clamping relation'byaz threaded cap 33-. The cap 33 is preferably of circular exterior shape provided with'adju'sting spanner holes 34,-Figure 2.

A reflecting button or bulls-eye 35 is secured in the head. of the cap 33. The button 35 is of suitable.- eol'oradaptedtoreflect light from cars approaching from forward and thereby provide the drivers thereof with a. warning indication of the lateral extent'andposition of the car carrying: the mirror.

The" shank 30 is curved toperrnit adjustment of the mirror 20 to the proper rear view angle, and its inner end is secured to a clamp stirrup 35, shown in detail in- Figures 4 and 5. The stirrup in: cross section: is substantially U-shaped, having a forked. clamping foot 31 adapted to engage the inner-side of a door-rim, and an overlying lug 3% rigidly secured to the end of the shank 30in the manner illustrated in Figures 6 to 10 inclusive.

Referring to Figures 7 and 6, the shank 30 has a portioni 33 reduced to leave a shoulder 43. The end of the portion 39 in turn is conically necked down at 4|: The lug 38 has a hole 42 adapted to allow 'passageof the conical portion 41 but of smaller-diameter than the shoulder 40, the hole having extruded peripheral serrations or teeth 43. -Ih-as'seml 3ly, an externally threaded bushing 44 is placed on the shank 30, the bushing having an interior flange 45 engaging the shoulder M. A serrated lock washer 46 is placed on the reduced shank portion 39 and the conical end 4| is inserted in the hole 42. The shank 30 is firmly supported and riveting pressure is applied to the end of the assembly, bending the teeth 43 inward to grip the cone 4| and riveting the latter between and over the teeth to envelop and overlie the same, at the same time compressing the lock washer 46 between the bushing 44 and the lug 38 as shown in Figure 9.

In the above process a cross riveting tool may be employed to ensure thorough forcing of the shank metal between the teeth 43 as shown in Figure 10. By this means all elements of the joint are permanently secured together and rigidly locked both against separation and against relative turning either during installation or under the vibration and jar incident to operation of the vehicle.

A casing 41, slidable over the threaded :bushing 44, is shaped to enclose the clamp 36. An internally threaded sleeve nut 48 is adapted to be screwed on the bushing 44, thereby moving the casin over the clamp. In installation, the foot 31 is hooked against the inside of the cars doorrim or the like and the casing 41 is forced against the exterior of the rim by means of the nut 48, thus firmly clamping the device in place. A resilient gasket 49, Figures 1, 2 and 3, may be provided on the edge of the casing 41 to prevent possible marring of the cars exterior finish.

The exterior of the nut 48 is of smooth circular shape and provided with spanner holes 52 for tightening and loosening. This construction, in addition to presenting an attractive appearance, is adapted to impede tampering or removal by unauthorized persons.

In the case of certain types of station wagons and the like, it is desirable to secure the device entirely to the exterior surface of the vehicle. For this purpose the foot 31 is provided with screw holes 50, Figure 4, allowing the foot to be fastened securely to the exterior surface of the car by suitable screws, after which the casing 41 is pressed inward against the car surface by means of the nut 48 to conceal the screw-heads and member 36 and to brace the fastening laterally.

In order to provide a rearwardly directed signal to following drivers, showing the lateral extent and position of the car on the road, the mirror 20 may have a border of red or other suitable color surrounding the central view-reflecting portion. The border is of beaded or other suitable diffusive reflective construction whereby light from a following car striking the border creates a luminous colored ring visible as a warning to the following driver.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the invention comprises a rear-view device providing for highly rigid and permanently shake-proof attachment to a vehicle. At the same time, the rigidly riveted attachment of the swivel sleeve 23 to the mirror frame and the firm clamping of the ball 3| between the hollow rivet 24 and the plunger 32 by means of the cap 33 prevent the sagging or other loss of proper position of the mirror, such as occurs in prior structures involvin spring frictions and the like. It is also evident that the use of the mirror 26, the border 51 and the reflecting button or bullseye 35 combine in a single simple structure three related safety functions, namely. giving the driver a view of objects behind while atthe same time furnishing a warning indication of his cars lateral extent and position both to following drivers and to those approaching from the front.

While the invention has been described in preferred form, it is not limited to the exact structures illnstrated, as various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a rear view mirror, in combination, a bracket adapted to be detachably secured to an automobile and having a hole therein, a plurality of extruded teeth formed around said hole, a shank adapted to support a rear view mirror at its outer end and having a necked down portion adjacent the inner end thereof and protruding through said hole, said teeth being pressed inward to em brace said necked down portion and said end being riveted over to laterally embrace and overlie said teeth, whereby said shank and bracket are rigidly secured together, a casing adapted to surround a portion of said bracket and contact the outer face of the support therefor, clamping means carried by said shank and adapted to engage said casing and force same against the support therefor, whereby said bracket is drawn towards said means and held in operative relation to its support, means forming a shoulder on said shank on the side of said bracket opposite said teeth said shoulder being of greater outer diameter than said hole, and a bushin on said shank having an interior flange engaging said shoulder whereby said flange is compressed between said shoulder and said bracket, said bushing being in threaded engagement with said clamping means.

DANIEL E. REED.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 139,506 Golden Nov. 21, 1944 843,704 Schindler Feb. 12, 1907 1,419,564 Hosking June 13, 1922 1,566,363 Berents Dec. 22, 1925 1,671,692 Anzell May 29, 1928 1,811,823 Horton June 23, 1931 1,936,624 Gelpcke Nov. 28, 1933 2,034,935 Anderson Mar. 24, 1936 2,077,355 Chaffee Apr. 13, 1937 2,089,463 Ritz-Woller Aug. 10, 1937 2,113,159 Moxley Apr. 5, 1938 2,121,144 Fischer June 21, 1938 2,128,187 Kondrath Aug. 23, 1938 2,138,808 Putterman et a1. Nov. 29, 1938 2,306,389 Jorgensen Dec. 29, 1942 2,322,431 Fischer June 22, 1943 2,361,764 Golden Oct. 31, 1944 2,419,306 Zeiler Apr. 22, 1947 2,436,678 Somers Feb. 24, 1948 

